Caroline Mabey: Quetzals 3*** - One4Review

I chose to see this show because it has the word ‘quetzal’ in the title. Anyone who knows that word is going to be my kind of comic, irrespective of whether or not they know or care what the word means.

Ms Mabey seems genuinely lovely, and gives the impression of being really comfortable both in her own skin and on stage. She’s a very good performer, giving her all to whatever the material is – variously singing, dancing, offering out cake, and reciting all 103 two letter words permitted in scrabble. Her interactions with the audience were non-threatening and engaging, and she didn’t manage to offend even when she was trying.

There’s a range of comedic techniques and styles in this show – riffing with the audience, some observational stuff, music, and short skittish bits – but I felt much of the material wasn’t strong enough to do justice to her performance. I would really like to see her do something stronger and punchier. She’s got rule one – don’t apologise – embodied and engrained, and I would like to see her exploit and declaim that confidence.